Service Animals and Pets in Food Premises

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in any food premises under section 80.45 (4) of Ontario Regulation 191/11 (Integrated Accessibility Standards) made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Service animals are allowed in any area where food is served, sold or offered for sale. 

What is a Service Animal?

A service animal is trained to help people with disabilities. Service animals are usually dogs but can be other animals, such as:   

• Dogs that help people who do not see well.
  

• Dogs that alert people who cannot hear important sounds well.  

Service animals helping a person with a disability usually wear a vest or harness and can be easily identified that way. Where there is no visual indicator, they will have documentation from one of the health professionals listed below to confirm that it is a service animal:  

• A member of the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Chiropractors of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Nurses of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Optometrists of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario. 

• A member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists of Ontario. 

Emotional support animals and therapy animals are only recognized as service animals if they have the visual indicator referred to above or the necessary documentation from one of the professionals listed above. 

Pets

Dogs are the only pets allowed in food service premises and they are only allowed in specific areas under certain conditions.  

What are Food Service Premises?

Any place where food or milk is manufactured, processed, prepared, stored, handled, displayed, distributed, transported, sold or offered for sale, but does not include a room actually used as a dwelling in a private residence. This includes places like restaurants (eat in and take away), coffee shops, bakeries, grocery stores and bars.  

Important

• The seating area of a food court or food hall is usually not part of a food service premises. 
• Food service premises operators are not required to allow pet dogs. Operators can ban the entry of pet dogs, but not if the dog is a service animal. 

Additional Information and Best Practices

• Make sure there are enough supplies available to clean up after service animals and dogs when dining with them at a food premises
  

• Wash hands after touching and cleaning up after service animals and dogs, and before eating
  

• Dogs must be supervised and on a leash when in food service premises as required by sections 12 and 12.1 of Toronto Municipal Code 349, Animals
  

• Report dog bites or scratches to Toronto Public Health, as required by section 2 (2) of Ontario Regulation 557/90 (Communicable Diseases – General). Wash the area with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Get medical help right away. 

For help with unique situations, please contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 or dinesafe@toronto.ca